Features The Definitive "MILD CUSTOM" Photo Thread....

FWIW, What is now considered a "Mild Custom" has changed greatly from the Custom heyday.

Quoting from Pat Ganahl's "the American custom Car";

Mild or conservative customs were ones that were nosed and decked, maybe had the door handles removed, with custom paint, upholstery, lowering, and accessories like sidepipes or spotlights.
The semi custom class had more alterations, such as headlight, taillight, or grille changes, and possibly body modifications, such as scoops or fins.
The full or radical custom class was usually for cars with at least one of the following three modifications: chopped top, channeled body or sectioned body."

This is pretty much how it was, with a majority of the customs seen at shows falling into the "Semi Custom" class.
(BTW, the "Semi" meant more Semi-radical than Semi-custom.)

Frenched lights? Sunken Antenna? More than "Mild" in its day!
From Kustomrama:
"...and went on to win ten first place trophies in his class, which was semi-custom convertible"



Dig out your R&C and Car craft magazines from the early sixties, and check out their "Showtime USA" event coverage.

To put things in perspective; This is the original James Dean Bad-Boy Merc, from the movie "Rebel Without a Cause".
Shocking, ain't it? (Anyone here from "I Like Ike" America? )

 

Thanks for the info, completely forgot about the Semi-custom class. [emoji849]


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This is pretty much how it was, with a majority of the customs seen at shows falling into the "Semi Custom" class.

And I might add, MO, mild customs were seen on the streets, at the drags and in school and factory parking lots! That is why I have an affinity for the mild custom! Fancy car shows were, and are, out of my league! The above 58 Pontiac you posted represents what a mild custom really is. And a fine example, at that

 

Thanks for the pics all! Maybe we need a semi-custom photo thread?
Jus kidding, but what a good thread this is!

 

That's a fact, Jack! Which is why this is also one of my favorite threads!

Not a bad idea, Outback!

 

making mine more kustom than before. work in progress.

Before:

 

This was my 57 Pontiac

 

The Polynesian, ca. 1960 A mild 1956? Ford ca. 1961


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Here are some mild(-er) beauties from the Barris's.

(Thanks to Rik Hoving's Archives and Kustomrama)

 

My 1965 foul can.
Borderline?

 

A few from Cerny...

(Thanks again Rik Hoving; Kustomrama)

 

My 58

 

Perfect!

 

Yes, even the Ayalas...

 

At the custom car show Alexandra palace 1983. It was the first early style custom in the UK, yes we were that far behind, not so much now,

 

Buicks from Japan. NICE!

 

Smack on the border! But your motives are clear. Now, nose that hood!

 

Certainly posted before, "May Cause Dangerous" is truly one of THE monumental Mild Customs of all time!

 

What year is the pic. From?@Rambling Rudy. Inquiring minds want to know.[emoji187]


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More than mild....but, Ooooohh, Sooooo subtle!
What a profile!

 

reminds me of this one by Carson McKeen, Wichita.

 

99% stock. 100% BEAUTIFUL!!!





Check the recessed port holes on this one!

 

This has been a great thread, but Photobucket didn't do it any favors when they reneged on free hosting and made half the pictures invisible.
My shoebox was on here before, and has been in many other threads, but I think it belongs here (even if it's more of a phantom than a mild custom):

To review a few of its details:
50 holes were filled, getting rid of '51 trinkets to be replaced with '50 stuff.
All exterior trim (and dash) was replaced with 1950 components.
Front wheel wells are raised 2" to recover some steering lock.
Backsides of bumper guards are filled with steel plate and rechromed.
Sid Chavers interior, patterned after '50s Jaguar sedan
Valance added below dash for A/C vents;

 

Thanks for the run-down, 5oFraud!
So many just let the pictures do the talking.

I would totally have missed the wheel well trick...a major piece of the puzzle! (So often the case!)
And I owned a '50 Ford.